For the best part of the first hour, Carlo Ancelotti's Paris Saint-Germain side had the upper hand in their quarter-final second-leg clash in Barcelona, and for the 21 unbelievable minutes after Javier Pastore chose to go it alone and lash his shot across Victor Valdes and into the back of the net (50'), Paris Saint-Germain had one foot in the semi-finals.
However, Pastore's deft finish to one of PSG's many lightning counter-attacks spurred Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova to bring on Lionel Messi - who, still recovering from injury, would likely otherwise have stayed on the bench - and the appearance of the talismanic striker turned the match on its head.
Messi spoils PSG party
The packed Camp Nou stands erupted in applause as their idol took the field and Barcelona's intensity lifted instantly, Vilanova's men bearing down on PSG's goal with renewed purpose. It took only seven minutes for the Argentine to make his mark, and it took just a moment's lapse for PSG to have all their hard work undone.
In trademark fashion, Messi slotted a precision pass to David Villa in the area, and the Spain international did well to fend off his marker long enough to cut the ball back for Pedro to unleash an unstoppable shot to Salvatore Sirigu's left (71').
That Paris continued to push for a second goal - a goal that would have set them back on track to qualify - spoke volumes about the commitment and belief they showed throughout a match in which they pushed Barcelona even harder, and for even longer, than in the first leg.
Valiant performance
Undaunted by the imposing atmosphere in the Camp Nou, not to mention Barcelona's incredible 20-match unbeaten run at home in the Champions League, Ancelotti's men took the game to their hosts right from the start despite the absence of key midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
Stepping in for Matuidi, Marco Verratti was sensational and his defensive midfield pairing with Italy teammate and Barcelona old boy Thiago Motta provided PSG's 'front four' of Lucas Moura, Xlatan Ibrahimovi, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Pastore with plenty of ammunition while keeping Barcelona's ultra-dangerous midfield at bay for just over an hour.
Valdes on fire
Indeed, without an inspired performance from 'keeper Victor Valdes, Barcelona wouldn't have gone into the break with the scores level, the Spain glovesman pulling out three splendid saves to deny goal-bound efforts from Lavezzi (24'), Lucas (28') and Alex (29') as PSG menaced both on the counter and from set pieces.
However, it took only five minutes of the second half for PSG to finally beat Valdes, Pastore working a one-two with Ibrahimovic in the middle of the park. The Swede's slide-rule return ball perfectly bisected the Barcelona defence, and with Lavezzi's run providing a crucial distraction, Pastore raced through on goal rifled an angled shot in off the diving Valdes' trailing foot.
Unbeaten
It was no less than the courageous men from the French capital deserved on a spectacular night at the Camp Nou, and although Barcelona brought their quality to bear in the end, Ancelotti's men quit the competition with their heads held high.
PSG may have regrets concerning this missed chance or that missed tackle, but in remaining undefeated over two legs against Barcelona - giving one of the very best teams in the world a run for their money both home and away - Les Rouge-et-Bleu announced their arrival among the continent's top clubs.
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